Electric box



F. H. WARD..

ELECTRIC BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAYI. 1913.

Patented May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I HI/I I. H. WARD.

ELECTRIC BOX. APPLICATION men MAY 1. 1912 Patented May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F. H. WARD.

ELECTRIC BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAY I. 1913.

1,304,226. Patented May 20,- 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

FREDERICK H. WARD, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed May 1, 1913. I Serial No. 764,821.

vide outlet boxes adapted to receive entering cables, from which it is desired to make electric connections, which boxes must necessarily be secured with relation to existing structures, and which can be applied without the usual attendant difficulties, destruction of the adjacent surfaces, orthe necessity for making changes in the gas pipe system.

A further object is to provide such boxes I applicable to interior or exterior corners,

. such as are frequently met with in building construction, and also to gas pipe fixture connections in which the shortest possible projecting element or nipple is used.

It hasbeen a further object to so design these boxes that they may not only be held securely in preferred positions butcontain holding elements applied in a novel manner adapted to engage with the superficial areas of incoming cables of armored construction and the like, without damage to the cables and without danger of loosing their grip thereon.

These objects are attained by the novel arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. '1 is a rear plan view of the box shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. is a plan view of a'box similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but indicating an adaption particularly applicable to gas fittings arranged with angular branches in a well known common manner.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional and side view of the same, the section being taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

' Fig. 7 is a plan View showing the combination of thebox shown in Figs. 9 and 11 illustrating its use in combination with gas pipes passing straight-through by means of a T fitting to which the box is secured.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows an adaption consisting of a half box which may be used in combination with other boxes.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a box which may be used by itself or more frequently in conjunction with the boxes illustrated in Figs. 9 and 17.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12 12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a box made in the general manner of that shown in Fig. 5, but showing a different conduit entrance construction. I

Fig. 14 is a transverse section taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a similar view of the same taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 16 is a. rear plan view of the-box shown in F ig. 13, and,

Fig. 17 is a plan View of a box adapted to be used in connection with the box illustrated in Fig. 11 and is similar to that shown in Fig. 9.

In the several styles of boxes shown the predominant feature indicated is that of applicability to existing conditions without change of pipe fittings.

The box shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is most frequently used as the disposition of gas piping indicated is of common occurrence; it consists of a cast metal frame having walls 20 of uniform height formed with an opening 21 extending inwardly to a semicircular recessed hub 22 which includes the box center; this opening has beveled side walls 23 which do not extend quite to the plane of the walls at the circumference of the box, to which they are united at the adjacent corners 24:; the widest portion of the beveled walled opening is at the rear or back side 25 of the box, as positioned against a structure, and is adap ed to pass connections can be made to sition on the wall, and in order to avoid contially 3 0 set screw fiicting with them, the flooring or cross web 26, is formed at a fixed distance from the base 25, so that the web will be clear of the mentioned, lugs.-

The box may be secured to the elbow 101 by means of set screws 28, passing angularly through beveled lugs 29 adjacent to the walls 23 of the openin 21, in'directions substantially radial to t e center of the box, and in such manner that their points bear directly upon the body of the fitting.

The openings 30, formed in the bosses 31 which extend from the web 26 to the height of the inner walls 23, have enlarged recesses 32 at the back to receive enterin cables; passing diagonally through the wa ls of the bosses 31 are screws 33 disposed tangento the main opening in such manner as to have their front end or point wedge against the outer covering of the entering cable; and the position which they assume, these by reason of their peculiar location,

screws in their action and effect, provide clamping means for either the largest cable that can enter the recesses 32, or the smallest cable practical to use, without damage to the same by flattening, distorting or injuring the insulation and protective casings, which is frequently done where a radially disposed set screw is used.

These boxes are also provided with holes 35 through the web 26 to receive any ordinary form of fastening means adapted to secure the box to the walls of buildings.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a box of frequent adaptability for use in connection with a common form of gas piping where three-way elbows 105 are used having branches 106 and 107 disposed at an angle, parallel with the wall, a fitting connection nipple 108 extending perpendicularly thereto. In this form walls 50 extending substantially around three quarters of the box the remainder being omitted to accommodate the gas piping and connections; a collar 51 is formed integral with the box, at the junction of the angularly disposed beveled walls 53 and provided with a 54 arranged in an enlarged boss 55 which extends over a fitting; the cable entrances are of the same nature as before described and the web is also provided with screw holes as before.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown a box particularly designed for installation where the space is limited, as at the corn'ersof partitions or where some impediment prevents the use of a box made as above described.

In this form the outer walls 75 extend about the confines of a partial circle and are joined by a straight wall surface 76 which may lie along a plpe or close to any existing projection; the cable entrances correspond with those previously mentioned.

This box has a flanged projection 70, containing the opening 71 adapted to go over a gas fitting nipple (not shown) and is held in place on it by a set screw 72; it is further provided with two radiating arm members 73 having openings 74 to receive screws or other fastening means which are adapted to v also pass through openings formed in other boxes if the same are used in conjunction.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a form of box used with common gas fittings, in combination'with'the form shown in Fi s. 11 and 12 the general arrangement of t e combined boxes being indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 where.

its application is clearly evident.

In this form the outer walls 60 extend in the same manner around a portion of the box and are joined by a straight wall 61; this partial box has bosses 31 containing the cable entrance openings 32 and similar securing means 33; in place of being fastened to the gas piping, holes 7/1 are formed to receive securlng means the holes being in register with the holes Fig. 11.

Another style of partial box is shown in Fig. 17 which is also adapted to be used with that shown in Figs. 11 and 12; in this the wall 95 embraces rather more than a half circle while the straight wall 96 is adapted to make close contact with the wall 7 6 of the box shown in Fig. 11'; the opening 91 may be placed over an extending nipple and held in position by fastening means passing through the holes 74, which register with the mentioned holes 7 4 in the companion box.

All the foregoing descriptions apply alike to the same generic form of boxes, the differences being in the relative extent or magnitude of the opening or space provided to receive the gas fittings used in combination therewith and'which space varies from that shown in Fig. 11, the maximum, through Fig. 5, to Fig. 1 where the least opening is indicated.

Figs. 13 to 16 illustrate an adaption of box, in which the cables are received in a somewhat different manner; the box is also of lesser height in order to accommodate particularly short nippled gas pipe connections and permit of fixture attachment thereto.

74 of the box shown in which receive entering cables from below the web surface leading diagonally inward to the interior.

These projections, which are arcuate in shape, are provided with interior openings 84, suited to receive cables, the ends of which may rest against abutments 85, the wires extending through curved openings 86 leading to the inside of the box, where they may be connected as desired.

The projections may be disposed on the rear surface of the web in any preferred manner to accommodate the entering cables and are provided with holding screws 87; angular-1y disposed walls exterior'to about the center of the box and have at their juncture a thin collar 89 containing the opening 81 which is adapted to be placed over a projecting pipe nipple and secured by a set screw 90.

Thus it will be seen that this style of a box may be readily adjusted with reference to most arrangements of gas piping; that the nipple, however short, will extend sufiiciently to have connections made to it irre spective of the box and that the mine is arranged conveniently for wiring.

Whlle the several views show boxes having circularly disposed walls it is to be understood that this invention is not concerned with the outline or configuration but with the openings extending inwardly sothat the boxes may be properly positioned without diificulty.

Having thus described my invention and indicated the manner of its application, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An outlet box comprised of two side elements having a passage-way therebetween opening outwardly to the edge, each of said elements being formed separately, means combinedwith one of said elements adapted to overlie a portion of the other, said overlying element havin an opening substantially at the center 0 the combined side elements adapted to receive a gas pipe fitting, and means for fastening said elements with respect to the mentioned gas pipe fitting.

2. An outlet box comprising a plate member, side walls having an opening extending radially into .the body of said plate member including its center, walls rising from said plate member along the edges of the men- 88 lead from the tioned opening, said walls having beveled interior faces, securing means combined with the last named walls, projections rising from said plate member to the height of the walls surrounding the opening, said projections betiveof a gas pipe fitting, means for securing said members together whereby a substantially cylindrical body is formed, cable entrances formed in both members and means for securing cables therein, said securing means being all within the confines of the united body members.

4. An outlet box comprising a body having an opening encompassing the center, straight cylindrical walls surrounding said body except at the mentioned opening, beveled Walls extending along the opening suited to pass over a gas fitting, means for receiving cables in said body, means for engaging cables therein, and means for attaching said body to the mentioned gas fitting,

said attaching means being wholly contained within the confines of said body.

5. An outlet box composed of parallel spaced separable segmental elements, each engageable with one or more cables independently and inclosing a central open space receptive of a support, and means for combining said elements into a substantially cylindrical body encompassing the support.

6. An outlet box composed of spaced separable segmental elements, each engageable with one or more cables independently, means for combining said elements into a cylindrical body having a. central opening receptive of a support, and securing means operative with respect to the support, said securing means being wholly contained within the body. i

In vtestimony whereof, I have hereunto signed 'my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK H. WARD.

Witnesses:

WALTER H. ROZELL, WARREN E. WILLIS. 

